Weizmann Outlines Present Situation in Palestine

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

An audience of 10,000 persons listened to the last address of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, which he delivered here in the square of the People’s House, before his departure from Palestine.

In his address Dr. Weizmann depicted the present situation in Palestine and the prospects for the near future.

Dr. Weizmann stated: “In a few hours I shall leave the country to return to the Diaspora. Believe me, all the kind greetings of which I was the recipient yesterday in Jerusalem and this evening in Tel Aviv, were a great burden to me. In order to deserve these kind greetings, hard, uninterrupted work, night and day, is necessary. One of the speakers said: ‘We ask only a small thing, that our heritage be given to us.’ The matter is so clear to those assembled here. It is regrettable, however, that it is not yet clear to those Jews who are outside of the Zionist ranks and to the other peoples. In Jerusalem yesterday I spoke of the political situation. I will touch here upon the outstanding, burning questions of the day.

NEW PLANS AND WORKS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF UNEMPLOYMENT

“I shall begin with the most important and most difficult problem: the lack of employment. Before I came here a colleague advised me that it would be better for me not to come. The situation here is bad and after all, the president of the Zionist Organization cannot bring an immediate remedy. I thought, however, that it is my duty to come, to study the situation and consult those colleagues who are working here, to see what can be done in order to surmount the difficulty.

“In my opinion, the question has two elements. One is temporary. It is necessary to take measures in order to overcome the temporary crisis and I believe this will be done. This is, however, a small matter in comparison with the other: it is necessray to create such conditions that will prevent the continuous recurrence of such crises. For this purpose great plans and new works are necessary which would enable a larger and greater development. This requires a proper study into the causes which have brought about the crisis.

“We are here in an environment of people who feel the entire responsibility which Palestinian life imposes upon each man who works and lives here. You will therefore forgive me if I am harsh. I am always harsh with myself, too.

“Palestine has a limited absorption capacity. Last year we exploited all the possibilities and we overstepped the abtorption capabilities of the country. A small and poor Yishubb cannot bear an Immigration of 40,000 annually. In order to prepare a sound basis for new immigration, it will be necessary to go more deeply into the question of organizing the immigration for the comng year. If our means were not limited, if the entire people would feel the pressure and the difficulty, as we do, then there would be no necessity for me to speak so. The stream would then flow normally. The people, however, to whom we have been speaking for years and years. the people who see the gigantic efforts of the Chalutzim and settlers, the workers and builders in Palestine, do not yet understand the entire importance of the work. They do not want to see that here in this gathering, and on the fields of Deganiah, Nahalal, Petach Tikwah and Hedirah there is a beginning to the solution of the problem.

“The way is long yet until the people will open its treasure and will contribute the national tax necessary for the reconstruction of Palestine. Our means have not grown to such an extent that we would be able to tell the people that there is an unlimited possibility to immigrate to Palestine. This we cannot say without sinning, without endangering that which has already been created here. It is much more difficult for a Zionist leader to speak thus than to say: the door is open, come and work. I wish that there would come such a leader who would be in a position to say this, who would be able to deliver that great speech, who could take out the golden key and open the gates of Palestine wide. Should there come such a leader, he will have no need of election, he will receive all the votes and I will be the first one to make place for him.

MUST SECURE SMALLER LOANS UNTIL NATIONAL LOAN CAN BE FLOATED

“But that time and that man have not yet arrived. We face the bitter reality, we must go one step back in order that we may be able to go forward. I know that there are among us people who will develop a theory of defeatism from these words. They will say: ‘We always told you that such a day would come.’

“No. They have never said so. Their prophecy was a false prophecy. They never believed that a day would come when 40,000 Jews would immigrate to Palestine in one year. The hour of this great immigration was for them an hour of despair. Of such a defeatism I am not afraid. We are not responsible for the crisis in Poland and in Europe. It was not our fault that the Americans are compelled to send millions to Poland and don’t send this money here at a time when Palestine cannot wait.

“In order to carry out plans, it is not enough to know the plans. It is neccessary to have the means. The collecting power of our Funds is not sufficient. New sources and new methods are required. The National Loan will not be accomplished in a short while. It is necessary to prepare public opinion before a realization of this project can be brought about. Until then, we have to get smaller sums for the purpose of realizing the plans with which our men are busy today. I hope and trust that with the participation of all our institutions, we will receive considerable sums as a loan on the basis of our plans. Perhaps before the summer is over, by the beginning of autumn, we will be in a position to begin a part of the great works for which the workers are waiting. I don’t say this in order to comfort those who are unemployed, but I wish to say that the question of unemployment will not go off my desk and that of all other workers and leaders until we find a solution to it. It must be speedily solved. Whatever will be possible to hasten this solution, your president will do.

“During my visit to Palestine, I read and heard much about another question–the relations with the government. The question of the defense unit became the symbol of this relationship. It has been exploited to the last atom. Commentaries were heaped upon commentaries. I do not know whether the Palestine government made this mistake purposely or inadvertently. I am sure that the High Commissioner and the high officials have not intended to attack our rights, that the High Commissioner fulfills his task in accordance with the instructions of the central government. A great mistake has been made and we will always fight against such steps by which our rights may be infringed. However, we saw an effort. and I want to believe that it is a sincere one, to correct the evil. Let us therefore wait patiently until the corrections intended by the government are carried into effect. The necessary representations will be made to the central government and we will not give up our rights.

TRANSJORDANIA IS THE EASTERN PART OF PALESTINE, WEIZMANN SAYS

“A few more words with regard to another question which is perhaps connected with the military unit question, which came to the fore in the discussion here. I openly and explicitly stated here as well as in London that we see in Transjordania the eastern part of Eretz Israel. However, we will build the bridge across the Jordan not with soldiers, we will make our way there by Jewish work, with the plough and not with the sword, only through the good will of the two nations, the Jews and the Arabs, will we cross the Jordan.

“Every unnecessary step, word or line can destroy the peace which we are endeavoring to bring about. Consider this: on one side–opportunity to begin work–and on the other–a mixed gendarmerie in Transjordania. The first has a temporary value, the other a permanent. Let us not exchange the temporary for the permanent.

“There are certain moments in the life of the nation when it is impossible to suppress one’s thoughts and it is necessary to pour out one’s heart. But those who stand on guard are duty bound to sound a warning. It is more difficult to speak the way I have here than to deliver enthusiastic addresses. If you will remember the front which we have to face, beginning with the extreme right–the Vatican–and ending with the extreme left–the modern vatican of Moscow; if you will visualize the miniature front beginning with the Agudath Israel and ending with the Communists, you will realize how difficult our political way is and how much caution is necessary in order to make even a step on the road of rebuilding our national home.

“Our way, as I told the Egyptian teachers, is the way of peace. It is narrow, difficult and unpaved. There is no false heroism on it and no false pathos, but it rests, so I believe, on the historic tradition of the Jewish people.

“When the nations of the world understand that this is our goal, they will approve it and facilitate our work. Should there, however, be a doubt in the public opinion of the world as to whether we go along this way, they will not believe in our work. The fundamental need of our work is the confidence of Europe and America, that what we are doing here is a step forward and not backward. This is the only way. There are some who believe in a miraculous short cut. Perhaps they will succeed in making this short cut. But there is no guaranteeing that this will happen without breaking one’s neck.

“We are parting this evening; I don’t know when we will see each other again. You work and we will work. I pray that in meeting soon again we will be in a position to state that we have overcome the difficulties and that we have the faith and the assurance that the fate of the national home rests on a firm foundation on a permanent foundation which will not shake to the end of time.”

Rabbi J. M. Levin, rabbi of two Cincinnati orthodox synagogues, died at Detroit, Mich. He was 53 years of age. Before coming to Cincinnati nine years ago, Rabbi Levin was rabbi of congregations in Atlanta, Wilkes Barre and Jersey City.